Gay. Lesbian. Homosexual. The U.S. is divided over the issue of gay marriage and gay couples. Many people believe that an "official" marriage is between a man and a woman; others whole-heartedly support gay couples being able to get married like any other couple. States are now debating and passing laws to either allow or outlaw gay marriage. So far, 41 states have banned same-sex marriages (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_the_United_States), arguing that it goes against traditional, i.e., conservative and Biblical, principles.

I do not agree with same-sex relationships. They go against my personal belief system which is, indeed, Christian. But! At the same time. I don't think the government has any business telling people who they can and can't marry/be with. Plain and simple. Just because you don't agree with it, doesn't mean you have to forbid people from making their own choices.

One side of the debate stems from the question of how children of a gay couple are raised. Many fear that being the child of a same-sex couple predisposes the child to ridicule and a life as an outcast. Perhaps. But so can having a geeky name. My point is, many children who are raised in a same-sex household, turn out just as well (and usually more open-minded) as children with heterosexual parents.

I'm disgusted by the lack of tolerance afforded to people who are gay. Being attracted to someone of the same sex does not make anyone less of a person. It doesn't make them a monster. And it certainly shouldn't make them an outcast. I have friends who are gay and bisexual. And I'm proud to call them my friends. I don't agree with their choices, but they are still awesome people who deserve my affection and respect.

So for all those people out there who are bullying kids and teenagers and young adults who are gay, just stop. It doesn't make you look cool, it makes you look mean and close-minded. You don't always have to agree with the life choices that someone makes. But you should never let that get in the way of seeing who a person really is.

My thinking is actually close to the opposite regarding same sex marriage and same sex relationships. I don't have any problem whatsoever with same sex relationships but I believe that
same sex marriage is a problem. Our legal system, tax system, health care system, etc are set up for a man and a woman to be in a marriage. As long as those systems remain they way they are,
same sex marriages should not be allowed.

While I sympathize with people who just want to be allowed to put the marriage stamp on their relationship, I still believe that it should wait until we have time to
change the established rules and figure out how we can make gay marriage work. It also irks me slightly that I have seen gay people say that they have the RIGHT to get
married just like anyone else. You really dont. Having rights doesnt mean everyone can do what everyone else can do. Civil unions and common law marriages give gays the
ability to gain the legal benefits of marriage, admittedly not in all states. But to be unsatisfied with that and continue pushing for "equal" rights is kind of a stretch. That would be similar to a
handicapped person being angry that the ramp outside the door isnt labeled "stairs". No I'm not comparing gay people with handicapped people, but the analogy displays the somewhat frivolous nature
of being upset after you have been accomodated instead of allowed to be "equal".

Even if gay marriages were given the green light tomorrow, gays would still encounter numerous problems caused by their relationship. Not being permitted entry into the Emergency Room to see your child is awful, I get it. Let society fix the real problems like those first, and we will continue the steady progress towards a full legal marriage with all its benefits.

Good points, but I have something to add. I don't think there's anything frivolous about being upset after being merely "accommodated" rather than being "equal". It's like women's suffrage. "Accommodating" women would be like telling them they could vote, but that their votes wouldn't count for anything. Women didn't want to simply have the privilege of voting, because if it wasn't going to be counted and couldn't make a difference, what was the point? Gay marriage is similar. If you can get married but are denied the privileges that come with marriage, what's the point?

I'm confused. "I don't agree with their choices" is different from "I personally would not enjoy doing it." I wonder which one you truly mean. I am casting doubt on the former, because not agreeing with someone while respecting them unconditionally involves an extremely precarious and impractical balancing act.

If I HAD to choose one, I'd say that I mean the former (I don't agree with their choices). But just because someone does something that you don't agree with doesn't mean you respect them any less. There are some things that would make me question someone's fundamental values, like harming themselves or others, either physically or emotionally. But I'm not going to respect someone any less simply because they choose to live their life differently than mine.

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anonymous one

4/16/2011 10:06:15 pm

I don't agree personally with same sex marriage but if you don't have that freedom in the "land of the free" then there's no hope for a person anywhere in this world